SKU: 70335692251

RAVENSCROFT, Edward The English Lawyer; a Comedy: Acted at the Royal Theatre.

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RAVENSCROFT, Edward The English Lawyer; a Comedy: Acted at the Royal Theatre.Ravenscroft's Ruggle RAVENSCROFT, Edward The English Lawyer; a Comedy: Acted at the Royal Theatre. London: Printed by J. M. for James Vade at the Cock and Sugar loaf near St. Dunstans Church in Fleet street. 1678. Small 4to. Twentieth century brown morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe for Phillip C. Broughton (initials P. C. B. gilt to upper board), turn ins ruled in gilt, two raised bands, spine lettered directly in gilt, edges stained red; pp. [iv], 67,

Ravenscroft's Ruggle

RAVENSCROFT, Edward The English Lawyer; a Comedy: Acted at the Royal Theatre. London: Printed by J. M. for James Vade at the Cock and Sugar-loaf near St. Dunstan’s Church in Fleet-street. 1678.

Small 4to. Twentieth-century brown morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe for Phillip C. Broughton (initials P.C.B. gilt to upper board), turn-ins ruled in gilt, two raised bands, spine lettered directly in gilt, edges stained red; pp. [iv], 67, [3], bound without final blank K4; inner margin of title subtly reinforced, not affecting printed area, uniform toning, slightly foxed throughout; overall very good; twentieth-century Sotheran’s stamp, Sackville Street, to front pastedown.

Very scarce first edition of Ravenscroft’s adaptation of George Ruggle’s celebrated Latin comedy Ignoramus, first printed in 1630.
Edward Ravenscroft (fl. 1659–1697), playwright, was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1659 and to the Middle Temple in 1667, though there is no evidence that he was called to the bar, and he appears to have devoted his attention mainly to literature. By the early 1670s he had turned to the theatre, becoming one of the period’s more active refashioners of earlier plays for the Restoration stage.

The English Lawyer is Ravenscroft’s English adaptation of Ruggle’s Latin comedy, first printed in 1630. Ravenscroft brings the celebrated university comedy to the public theatre, retaining the biting satirisation of loquacious and avaricious lawyers, but reducing the original five-hour performance to less than three hours. In addition to Ruggle’s original, Ravenscroft’s sources likely include earlier English translations by Fernando Parkhurst in 1660 and Robert Codrington in 1662, both of which represent faithful translations rather than attempts to adapt the play to the commercial stage. The result is a notable revival of one of the most famous academic plays of the Jacobean period, here recast for performance at the Royal Theatre in 1677.

Ravenscroft’s deftly crafted farce of mistaken identity follows the convoluted and ultimately unsuccessful attempts of the English lawyer Ignoramus to marry the Moroccan ward of a Portuguese merchant living in Smyrna, while offering a sharp critique of the jargon of common law. Ignoramus’ fondness for delivering pompous legal maxims in Latin self-consciously evokes the habits and speech of ‘the archetypal English lawyer of the early modern period’, Sir Edward Coke. Although the former Chief Justice had died in 1634, his writings remained the subject of debate throughout the seventeenth century. In the epilogue to The English Lawyer, Ignoramus exactly reproduces phrases drawn from Coke’s Institutes of the Laws of England: ‘Criticks are all free Subjects, and to be debar’d of their Liberty is directly against Magna Charta, the very fundamental Laws of the Realm’ (Raffield, p. 385).

Ravenscroft’s own legal associations give the choice of subject particular interest. His connection with the Inns of Court appears to have been somewhat unsettled: four years prior to the staging of The English Lawyer, on 30 May 1673, Ravenscroft’s chamber was seized for arrears in rent. More broadly, Ravenscroft is remembered as the first critic to posit that Titus Andronicus was not originally the work of Shakespeare, a position now known as the ‘Ravenscroft tradition’.

This copy is the only example of any edition to have appeared at auction since 1993.

ESTC R7262; Wing R2211. See Raffield, ‘A Discredited Priesthood’ (2005).

SKU: 2125024

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SKU: 70335692251

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AmberC
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
My Dobermans favorite toy to destroy, and one of our recommended picks.
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
Ok, here's an honest breakdown review. I have a 6 month old Doberman who shreds every stuffed animal and dog bed he's come across. He's one of the worst chewers I've owned. We have tried a WIDE variety of stuffed toys. That said, this elephant is his favorite toy. I have ordered 4 of them so far, and just ordered another 4-pack on a buy three get one free deal. The elephant stands out above all the other stuffed creatures from goDog for me as to durability. Hence why I keep buying more. But they usually last about 2-3 weeks on average. In our house, the poor creatures are subjected to vicious, crazy, shaking of the head, helicopter type rotation. It' so hard if it hits your bare arm or leg it actually stings especially when its wet. Then the old, put it between his legs laying down, tearing at the legs action. The limbs are usually the first things to go over time. But they are each almost self sealing, so you clean up as little fluff and keep using it. Eventually the pup reaches the main body and finishes it off. For a normal light to normal chewer, one of two will get you a long way. For those of us resigned to having zoomie type manic chewers that need a constant supply of toys, 2-3 week durability is pretty sound too. I do not recommend the green cheaper monster. It lasted about 45 minutes. The free replacement took about 3 days. Hopefully this aids you in your decision!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2026
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Ashley
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Very durable for rowdy pups
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
This toy has outlasted any other dog toy I have ever bought. I have one large and one medium dog who share toys, fight over toys, chew them to death and still play with them. It might be because it isn't one of their favorites. I don't know. All I know is that our house is littered with dog toys in different states of destruction and this elephant toy has very little damage. It has definitely been in the dog toy rotation. I had this toy for 2 months without any major damage. The day I wrote the review the dogs tore the leg off! I still think it is a good toy. Some toys lose the stuffing or squeaker the first day.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2025
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Lady
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toy for a smaller dog
Color: Checkers - Dinos Bruto (Purple), Size: Mini
This is a small, firm, sturdy toy designed for chewing. It isn't a soft toy and it does not have a squeaker. My dog is only 8 lbs, and this is a perfect size for her. I discovered these smaller toys through my groomer. Other manufacturers make this size, as well. The "hard chew" part indicates that this toy will not be chewed to death easily. The oldest one that we have is still in good condition. It's a baby duck (also available on Amazon) and it's over a year old. The dinosaur is colorful, easy to throw, and a really cute. Every night, my dog gives these small toys a bath, cleaning them up by licking each one before going to sleep. It's as if they are her babies. Since she never had a liter, my vet said that they are about the size that her babies would have been, so she may see them as her babies. She treats them well. Every now and then they go" swimming" in the washing machine and come out looking bright and new again.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2026
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Lori
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 4
Updated, still going !! didn't last two minutes.
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
I hated giving this a 1 star, because it was so cute when I unpacked it today. I just gave it to my dog and in less than two minutes he has a hole ripped in it.! he loves it so I don't wanna take it away from him, but I'm sure it's going to be gone in another few minutes. Why can't someone make a stuffed animal for a dog that lasts like they say so on their listing? I really should take it away from him and send it back, but I don't have the heart. I had to come back and give this a better review. it deserves at least four stars because even though he ripped holes in it, this one has lasted way longer than any other toy. He's actually still playing with it, and it still has some crinkle left to it so he didn't destroy the whole thing as quickly as he did other stuffed animals. I will certainly buy another one because at least it lasted a week so far!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2026
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Russell C. Longmire
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 3
Looks Nice But Destroyed by my Lab
Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Checkers - Elephant (Gray), Size: Large
A really cute little elephant. My lab loved it and carried it around for a week. Then the elephant began losing body parts. Both legs are gone now plus the big squeaker. Lab still likes the elephant and carries it around. Its loosing stuffing and the real question is what body part is next. Its nice but not tough.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2026

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